Veteran and Military Student Success
April 26, 2016
Dear Military Service Member and Military Veteran:
I am excited to inform you of the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic
“Bridge the Gap” 2016-2017 Scholarship Open Season. For a third year, the efforts of
dedicated men and women raised scholarship dollars through their annual Charity Golf
Classic. This organization donates funds to the University of South Carolina Educational
Foundation for the benefit of the University of South Carolina Aiken military service
member and military veteran students.
The Office of Veteran and Military Student Success is now accepting scholarship
applications through 12:00pm July 1, 2016. You may send a signed electronic application to
me at rmurphy@usca.edu, or drop off your completed application at the VMSS center. If
you drop off your application, please ensure a VMSS team member Date and Time Stamps
your application.
The eligibility requirements for the Bridge the Gap Scholarship are:
1. Enrolled at University of South Carolina Aiken as a Full-Time Student for the 2015-2016
academic year.
2. Military Veteran and or Active Duty Service Member (DD214 or Active Duty Military I.D
Card are used to verify this requirement)
3. Preference given to veteran/service member with Service Connected Disability (Veterans
Affairs Rating Letter is used to verify this requirement)
Last academic year seven veteran/military service member students received a total of
$15,000 dollars in scholarships. This year the number of scholarship recipients has
increased as well as the overall scholarship awards.
If you have any questions about this outstanding opportunity, please contact me at
rmurphy@usca.edu or call the VMSS center at 803-643-6767. Good luck on your selection.
Stay Strong!
Semper Fidelis,
Robert A. Murphy
Director, Veteran and Military Student Success
University of South Carolina Aiken
ramurphy@usca.edu
803-641-3582
471 University Parkway Aiken, South Carolina 29801 803-641-3583
AIKEN – AUGUSTA WOUNDED WARRIOR CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC
BRIDGE THE GAP
SCHOLARSHIP
Overview: Each year the University of South Carolina Aiken Veteran and Military Student
Success in partnership with the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic
Committee awards several scholarships to Military Veteran/Active Duty students. These
scholarships are merit based and documented financial need based. Awards will be given to
students based on merit, a documented financial need, or both factors. However, all these
scholarships take into account the student’s honorable military record of service and potential
capacity to continue his or her success as a civilian. Students may receive this scholarship more
than once.
The efforts of dedicated men and women, mostly veterans themselves, raise scholarship dollars
through the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic (AAWWCGC) and donate
these funds to the University of South Carolina Educational Foundation for the benefit of the
University of South Carolina Aiken Military Service Member and Military Veteran Students.
Purpose: The Bridge the Gap Scholarship provides Military Service Member and Military
Veteran Students with funds to support their education goals while attending the University of
South Carolina Aiken. The AAWWCGC Board desires these funds reward students for their
previous military service, or current public service or academic achievement (merit), or support
the same students who might have financial difficulty. Overall, the AAWWCGC Board
supports increased retention and graduation success of the scholarship recipients.
The Post 9/11 VA Education and Training GI Bill is an excellent benefit earned by military
service members. However, this benefit is not all encompassing and the Bridge the Gap
Scholarship hopes to fill critical financial gaps allowing the recipient to stay in and complete
their degree. Thus, these funds can be used for any purpose supporting degree completion as
determined by the scholarship recipient.
Application Dates: April 26, 2016 – 12:00pm July 1, 2016 (Ensure the USC Aiken VMSS Staff
Date and Time Stamp your application when you drop off your application).
Selection Criteria:
1. Enrolled at University of South Carolina Aiken as a Full-Time Student
2. Military Veteran and or Active Duty Service Member (DD214 or Active Duty Military
I.D Card are used to verify this requirement)
3. Preference given to veteran/service member with Service Connected Disability (Veterans
Affairs Rating Letter is used to verify this requirement)
AIKEN – AUGUSTA WOUNDED WARRIOR CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC
BRIDGE THE GAP
SCHOLARSHIP
The AAWWCGC Bridge the Gap Scholarship Application contains (4) sections of questions:
Part I:
Tell us about yourself
Part II:
Your academic plan for success
Part III:
Merit Based or Financial Based Questions
Part IV:
Your life plan for success
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Fill out the Bridge the Gap Scholarship Application using Times New Roman 12 point font.
Attach a cover letter to your application and include all supporting documentation (see
supporting documentation requirements under Selection Criteria). For Part I-III answer each
question using a short essay format (between 75 to 150 words). Additionally, under Part IV,
there is a 500 word essay question.
Your response to the questions should be organized under each section. For example:
Part II. Your academic plan for success:
Part III. Merit and/or Financial Needs Questions:
2. When your application is complete, save it as one file in a PDF format, name the file your
firstlastname.pdf, and submit your completed application with cover letter to
rmurphy@usca.edu. You may also submit a paper copy to the VMSS center. Ensure a VMSS
team member stamps your application with the date of your submission. All applications are
due by 12:00pm July 1, 2016.
3. The scholarship review board will review each submission and announce the scholarship
awardees prior to the Fall 2016 semester. The scholarship review board considers heavily the
depth and details of your answers.
4. The VMSS Team is available to answer questions you might have concerning the Bridge the
Gap Scholarship. Please do not hesitate to seek their assistance or guidance.
AIKEN – AUGUSTA WOUNDED WARRIOR CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC
BRIDGE THE GAP SCHOLARSHIP
Application
Part I:
Tell Us About Yourself:
Name:
(First)
(Middle)
(Last)
Address:
(Street)
(City)
(State)
Home Phone:
(Zip)
Cell Phone:
Email Address:
Major:
I will be a:
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Part II:
Your academic plan for success:
Your Field of Specialization and Academic Plans
• Discuss how your interest in your field or major developed and describe your
experience in the field – such as your military service or other work – and what you
gained from this involvement.
•
What do you think the industry of
will be like in the next 10 years?
(Your Field)
•
What is your academic plan?
• Provide details concerning your current and anticipated future
coursework/credits, for your degree completion.
•
Detail your VA GI Bill or DoD Tuition Assistance usage plan, if utilizing one of
these plans. How many months of benefits will you use to complete your plan?
(You may use the below chart to assist you in answering this question. This chart
should also be part of your answer).
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AIKEN – AUGUSTA WOUNDED WARRIOR CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC
BRIDGE THE GAP SCHOLARSHIP
Application
Major
E.g. Business Administration
VA Education and Training
GI Bill
E.g. CH 33
Credit Hours Towards
Degree
60
Credit Hour Requirement
for Degree
121-124
Months Remaining
Months Required to
Complete Degree
30
36
Major Credit hour requirements are found in the 2015-2016 Undergraduate and Graduate
Programs Bulletin.
You can find your VA Education and Training Benefit information on your Certificate of
Eligibility provided to you by the Veterans Administration.
Current Events and Social Issues (Choose one question to answer)
• What do you think is the single most important consideration towards a veteran’s
success and why?
• Pick a controversial problem related to veterans’ reintegration into the community and
suggest a solution.
Part III:
Merit and or Financial Needs Questions:
Determine if you would like to be considered for a Merit Based Scholarship, a Financial Based
Scholarship, or a combined Merit/Financial Based Scholarship. Please choose the appropriate
section for the scholarship you are applying. If you would like to be considered for the
Merit/Financial Combined Scholarship, please answer the questions from both sections.
Merit Based Scholarship answer all 4 questions
Personal Achievements
• Describe how you have demonstrated leadership ability both in and out of school.
• Discuss a special attribute or accomplishment that sets you apart.
• Describe your most meaningful achievements and how they relate to your field of study
• Why are you a good candidate to receive this award?
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AIKEN – AUGUSTA WOUNDED WARRIOR CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC
BRIDGE THE GAP SCHOLARSHIP
Application
Financial Based Scholarship answer all 3 questions
Financial
• State any special personal or family circumstances affecting your need for financial
assistance.
• How have you been financing your college education and how will this scholarship
assist?
• From a financial standpoint, what impact would this scholarship have on your
education?
Part IV:
Your life plan for success
Background and Influences (Choose 2 questions to answer from the 4 questions below)
• Pick an experience from your own life and explain how it has influenced your
development.
• Who in your life has been your biggest influence and why?
• How has your military background affected the way you see the world?
• How has your military experience contributed to who you are today?
Personal Essay
In 500 words or less, please describe your plans and goals. Use the three points below to
guide you in your response.
Future Plans and Goals
• Briefly describe your long- and short-term goals.
• Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
• How will a college education support your goals and plans for success?
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